The free-agent apocalypse that was going to reach in Toronto subsequent summer season has apparently disappeared. Earlier than final summer season, Auston Matthews and William Nylander have been a season away from unrestricted free company, and John Tavares and Mitch Marner have been two years away. The latter two are nonetheless in that spot, however now each Nylander and Matthews are locked up, with the news today that the Leafs inked Nylander to an eight-year, $92 million extension that kicks in subsequent season.
This can result in a whole lot of focus and a whole lot of barbs aimed toward THE BIG 4 come the spring, as they’ve collectively provide you with one playoff collection win of their total time collectively. When a participant is paid probably the most, they’re all the time within the highlight, that’s the way it goes. And when it goes fallacious in April or Might, because it seemingly will as a result of it solely goes properly for one staff, you’ll be able to wager all of the scribes and radio hosts in The Six have their targets already picked, their monologues written, about how Matthews and his 70 targets this yr isn’t a profitable participant or that having stars will not be a method to win a Cup, and a staff has to do it by means of a set of men nobody’s ever heard of as a result of “they want it more.” It’s coming.
It’s additionally horsesh*t.
The Leafs’ issues aren’t as a result of they’ve too many top-tier gamers. And Nylander’s contract isn’t going to be any extra of a millstone than some other gamers who’re making eight figures throughout the league, so long as they produce like these gamers. Nylander actually has this season, regardless of his lack of earlier particular person accolades. Matthews might take a run at 70, however it’s Nylander who’s top-five in scoring whereas enjoying on the second line with Tavares and an if-he-only-had-a-brain Tyler Bertuzzi. Watch the Leafs any recreation and see who jumps off the display each shift. It’s Nylander.
Whereas the Leafs would be the solely staff with 4 $10+ million gamers, there are a pair components to recollect. One, the wage cap will lastly go up after this season to supply slightly extra respiratory room. Two, TJ Brodei’s dumpy ass will come off the books for $5 million of reduction, and so will the unconscionable contracts to Bertuzzi and Max Domi for one more $8 million of area. That must be sufficient to do no matter must be achieved.
And one want look no additional than contracts handed out to doofuses like Bertuzzi or Brodie or Domi to know why the Leafs by no means get to the enterprise finish of the playoffs. Positive, Matthews and Nylander and Marner haven’t produced common season numbers within the playoffs, or not often have, however that’s how the playoffs go. Not often do the celebs produce for each recreation by means of 4 rounds. Sooner or later, the backing crew has to return by means of. The argument has all the time been that the Leafs are paying these 4 gamers an excessive amount of to get that kind of participant or just a few of them. However Bertuzzi is making $5 million. So is Brodie. Domi is making $3 million. There are many different gamers at these costs who can produce within the spring. The Leafs, whether or not it was Kyle Dubas as GM or now Brad Treliving, simply haven’t been capable of finding them.
It doesn’t matter what they’re paying Nylander now, he can’t make their protection quicker and the Leafs have all the time opted for plodding street graters behind Morgan Rielly, who may not be a No.1 d-man anyway. The Knights boasted Shea Theodore on their second pairing. The Avalanche had like 4 puck-movers in 2022. The Lightning had Mikhail Sergachev behind Victor Hedman. It’s not a tough formulation to crack. And but the Leafs maintain tossing the likes of Jake McCabe on the market with a straight face. Or perhaps they’ve the correct concept and the fallacious resolution, just like the rotting corpse of John Klingberg, whom they needed to embalm 1 / 4 of the best way by means of this season.
The Leafs additionally haven’t been capable of produce anybody to contribute by means of their very own system, and cheaply, since that first wave of youngsters produced these stars that they’re now paying. Matthew Knies is about the one one. Even when they’re drafting within the 20s most years and given up picks for deadline pickups, a staff has to hit on a few of them. The Leafs haven’t.
The Leafs have what each different staff is searching for, and that’s actually good gamers. Groups tank for the correct to draft simply one of many 4 the Leafs have. Rebuilds are about amassing top-end picks to get extra of them. All the opposite questions don’t matter till a staff has the highest ranks stuffed out.
Nylander gained’t be the Leafs’ downside it doesn’t matter what occurs within the spring. No matter else they could do, the Leafs are proper in figuring that a lot out.
Observe Sam on Twitter @Felsgate and on Bluesky @Felsgate.bsky.social
